Fabric stretcher



EL 19% F. R. PIPER ET AL 2,325,997

FABRIC STRETCHER Filed. Dec. 21, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F1613; 4a k ATTOR EYS United States Patent FABRIC STRETCHER Frank R. Piper and James M. Gardner, Fairfax, Ala., assignors, by mesne assignments, to West Point Manufacturing Company, West Point, Ga., a corporation of Georgia Application December 21, 1953, Serial No. 399,249

6 Claims. (CI. 45-24) This invention relates to apparatus for stretching fabric, and more particularly to apparatus for stretching shrunk towels back to within a tolerance of their original length.

In the course of their manufacture, towels frequently become soiled accidentally, and in this condition must be classified as seconds. In order to recover the resulting financial loss, manufacturers frequently attempt to wash and reprocess soiled towels to render them a firstgrade product. In the washing of such soiled towels, however, they frequently shrink below first-grade towel length, which shrinkage, even though they are no longer soiled, still necessitates a seconds classification.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide apparatus for stretching shrunk towels back to within a tolerance of their original length.

It is another object of this invention to provide stretching apparatus which will accommodate towels of different lengths.

It is another object of this invention to provide stretching apparatus that is relatively simple in design, with consequent economies of manufacture, and which possesses both facility and economy of operation.

Itis still another object of this invention to provide a fabric stretcher that has a high production rate.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a towel stretcher that minimizes chance of injury to an operator.

, Other objects and advantages of the invention Will become apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of stretching apparatus embodying this invention.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a schematic showing of the compressed air piping of the stretching apparatus shown in the foregoing figures.

Referring now to the drawings, the stretching apparatus shown therein includes a substantially rectangular horizontal open frame that is supported at its four corners by legs 12 suitably reinforced by longitudinal and transversebracing members 14. The frame 10 is formed by inwardly facing side and end channel members 16 and 18, respectively, the side channel members 16 providing two spaced parallel longitudinal guideways 20 (Figure 3). Mounted for linear movement in the guideways 20 are two longitudinally-spaced clamp-carrying carriages 22 and 24. The carriage 22 normally is positioned in spaced relation to one end of the frame 10 but movable theretoward by power means later described, while the carriage 24 is positioned in fixed spaced relation to the carriage 22 but adjustable (by means later described) toward and away therefrom to vary the spacing therebetween. Since both carriages 22 and 24 are substantially identical, a description of one will sufiice for both.

The carriage 22 includes two vertically-spaced upwardly-facing channel members 26 and 28 secured together by tie rods 30 (Figure 3) bolted thereto. The channel members 26 and 28 are disposed transversely of the frame, and the upper channel member 26 has stub shafts 32 (Figure 1) at its opposite ends mounting rollers 34 (Figure 4) which travel within the guideways 20. Preferably, the diameter of the rollers 34 is only slightly less than that of the spacing between the flanges of the channel members 16 forming the guideways. The carriage 22 also includes another pair of rollers 36 travelling in the guideways 20 and spaced longitudinally from the rollers 34 to prevent tilting of the carriage. The pair of rollers 36 is journalled on the opposite ends of a transverse axle 38, on the underside of which is welded a bar 40. The opposite ends of the bar 40 are connected to the channel member 28 by generally L-shaped struts 42 having their opposite ends secured to the bar and to the channel member, as by welding.

The upwardly-facing channel member 26 of each carriage constitutes the fixed jaw of a clamp 44 and has smoothly-inturned flanges 46. A downwardly-facing channel member 48 overlies the channel member 26 and constitutes the movable jaw of the clamp 44. Fixed within the channel member 48 is a core 50 (Figure 4), of wood or the like, which has a depending bevelled lower edge that engages with and between the inturned flanges 46 on the channel member 26 for clamping fabric between the clamp jaws. Preferably, the core 50 is covered with fabric 52, such as toweling, to avoid damage to fabric clamped between the jaws of the clamp 44.

The channel member 48 is supported for vertical reciprocation by two rods 54 secured to the opposite ends thereof and depending through guiding apertures in the channel members 26 and 28. The lower ends of the rods 54 are secured to a transverse connecting member 56, as by nuts 58. Collars 60 are secured on the two rods 54 between the members 26 and 28, and interposed between each collar 60 and the web of the channel member 28 is a coil compression spring 62 to normally maintain the movable jaw 48 of the clamp 44 spaced above the fixed jaw 26 of the clamp. Bolted to the underside of the fixed jaw 26 of the clamp 44 are two power cylinders 64, one adjacent each end thereof. Each power cylinder 64 has a conventional piston therein and a conventional piston rod 66 which projects downwardly through an aperture in the channel member 28 and into engagement with the connecting member 56. It thus will be seen that when pres sure fluid is supplied to the two cylinders 64 to extend their piston rods 66, the movable jaw 48 of the clamp 44 will be forced downwardly into, engagement with the fixed jaw 26 thereof to clamp a piece of fabric or a towel 68 therebetween, as shown in Figure 4.

The carriage 24 carries a power-operated clamp 70 identical in every respect to the clamp 44.

Bolted to the opposite sides and disposed beneath the undersurface of a plate-like extension 72 of the frame 10 at that end thereof remote from the carriage 22 are two parallel power cylinders 74 having piston rods 76 which extend beneath the frame and have their ends secured to the struts 42 on the carriage 22. Secured to the opposite sides of the frame 10, as by welding, are

depending brackets 78, to each of which one end of a coiled tension spring 80 is secured and the other end of each spring is secured to the corresponding strut 42 on the carriage 22. From this construction, it will be seen that when power fluid is supplied to the two power cylinders 74 to extend their piston rods 76, the latter will force the carriage 22, and therefore the clamp 44, away from the clamp 70.

Two elongated screws 82 extend longitudinally. be-

assess? neath the frame adjacent the opposite sides thereof beneath the piston rods 76. At their outer ends, the two screws 82 are journalled in a transverse plate 84 (Figure 2) welded to two end -'legs 12'of'the frame 10 and have thrust collars 36 secured thereon on opposite sides of the plate. One of the screws 82 has a hand wheel 88 on the outer end thereof, and the two screws are interconnected for simultaneous operation by the hand wheel by an endless chain 94) running over sprockets 92. The other and inner ends of the screws '82 have a reduced smooth extension 94 (Figure 4) journalled in a transverse bar 96 secured beneath the frame 10, as by depending brackets 98 welded to the'sides of the frame. The screws 82 pass throughenlarged apertures in the struts 42 on the carriage '24 and. are threadedly engaged within members 100 that constitute feed nuts andare secured, as by welding, to the struts. From the aforedescribed construction, it will be seen that rotation of the hand wheel '88 serves 'to move the'carriage 2d, and consequently the clamp 70, toward or away from the traversing clamp 44, but that the carriage 24 cannot move without deliberate rotation of the screws 82; i. e., the adjustment means for the carriage 24 is irreversible.

Resting on the side members 16 of the frame 10 between the two clamps 44 and 70 are a pluralityof abutting plates or boards 102, the upper surfaces of which are flush with the upper surfaces of the fixed jaws 26 of the two clamps. The purpose of these plates 102'will be described later.

Referring now to Figure 5, itwill be seen that all of the power cylinders are supplied with pressure'fluid from a line or manifold 104 connected to a suitable source of fluid under pressure (not shown). Preferably, the power fluid is compressed air. The two power cylinders 64 on each carriage 22 and 24 have their inlets connected together by conduits 106, and the two conduits 1% are connected by a flexible or extensible manifold conduit 108 that is supplied with compressed air from the manifold 104 via a conduit lltyhaving a manually-operated control valve 112 connected thereinto. Preferably, this valve 112 is of the push-"button type, i. e., will remain open only as long as manually engaged by an operator. The valve 112 is mounted on a side member 16 of the frame it) and has a guard cover itst'nerearound to prevent accidental operation thereof. The twopower cylinders 74 likewise have their inlets connected together by a conduit .116, and the latter is supplied with'pressure fluid from the manifold 1% via a conduit 118 having a manually-operable control valve 129 and an adjustable fluid pressure regulator 122 connected in series thercinto. The manual control valve 129 preferably is of the same type as the valve 112 and is similarly secured to the side member 16 of the frame 10 in spaced relation to the valve 112 and provided with a guard cover 124.

in operation of the towel stretcher, an operator places one end of a shrunk towel between the open jaws .of the traversing clamp 44 and with the length of the towel resting on the boards-102. The operator then turns the hand wheel 88 nntilthe jaws of the relatively-fixed clamp 74 are in position to engage the other end of the towel, and this latter end is then placed between the jaws of the clamp 70. In'this connection, it will be seen that the number of boards or plates 102 between the two clamps can be increased. or decreased according to the length of the towel being stretched and will support the length of the towel between the'two' clamps prior to the stretching operation. Of course, the adjustment of the carriage 2d and the plates 102 is necessary only when changing from one towel sizeto another, and is unnecessary for each towel in a lot of shrunktowels of the same original length.

After the two ends of the towel are in proper position to be engaged by the two clamps 44 and 70, the operator actuates the valve 112 to admit compressed air to the power cylinders 64 of both clamps and thus move their movable jaws 48 downwardly into engagement with their fixed jaws 26 to firmly clamp the two ends of the towel. Thereupon, the operator actuates the valve 120 to supply compressed air to the two power cylinders 74, to thereby force the traversing clamp 44 away from the fixed clamp 70. As the traversing clamp 44 is forced away from the fixed clamp 70, a stretching force is imposed on the towel uniformly across its width, and when the towel has been stretched longitudinally to within a tolerance of its originallength, the operator actuates the two valves 112 and 129 to relieve air pressure on all of the power cylinders. Thereupon, the movable jaws 48 of both clamps 44 and 70 are moved upwardly to release both ends of the towel, and at the same time the springs return the traversing clamp 44 to its original position.

Since the apparatus may be used to stretch shrunk towels of dilferent tensile strengths which will require different forces tostretch the towels back to their original lengths,the stretching force obtainable by the machine can be adjusted by appropriate adjustment of the pressure regulator 122.

It also will be noted that, since the operator must use two hands to operate the stretcher, the danger of having a hand ofthe operator caught in either of the clamps, or by the. carriage 22 during movement thereof, is minimized.

It thus will be seen that the objects of this invention have been fully and efiectively accomplished. It will be realized, however, that the specific embodiment of the invention shown and described for the purpose of illustrating the principles of this invention is subject to change Without departure from such principles. For example, all of the power cylinders: and 74 may be double-actinginstead of single-acting, as shown. In such event, by the use of appropriate control valves all of the springs can be eliminated and the power cylinders utilized to both open and close the clamps, and to both move and return the traversing clamp 44 to its original position. Further, the apparatus is susceptible of use for stretching all types of fabrics in addition to 'toweling. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

We claim:

1. A stretcher for generally rectangular pieces of fabric comprising: a generally rectangular horizontal frame; a pair of parallel guideways, one extending longitudinally along each side of said frame; a first clamp having a transversely extending, elongated channel member mounted for horizontal movement in said guideways and a complementary, elongated member horizontally movable with said channel member and mounted for vertical movement with respect thereto, said complementary member having means arranged to enter said channel member in one position of relative vertical movement thereof so as to clamp one end of the fabric piece therein; a second clamp horizontally spaced from said first clamp and having a transversely extending, elongated channel member mounted for horizontal movement in said guideways and a complementary, elongated member horizontally movable with said second clamp channel member and mounted for vertical movement with respect thereto, said second clamp complementary member having means arranged to enter said second clamp channel member in one position of relative vertical movement thereof so as to clamp the opposite end of the fabric piece therein; and fluid pressure means for eifecting a relative horizontal mo ement between said clamps so as to stretch the fabric piece clamped therebetween.

2. A fabric stretcher comprising a frame having horizontally disposed means for supporting a substantially rectangular piece of fabric with its ends extending thereamass? beyond, an elongated clamp extending along each end of said supporting means, each of said clamps including a lower jaw disposed generally in the horizontal plane of said supporting means for receiving and supporting the end of the fabric piece extending beyond the adjacent end of said supporting means and an upper horizontally disposed jaw mounted for relative vertical movement with respect to the associated lower jaw, fluid-pressure means for effecting relative vertical movement between the jaws of each clamp so as to secure the associated ends of the fabric piece therebetween, and fluid-pressure means for eifecting relative horizontal movement between the clamps away from each other with the jaws thereof secured to the ends of the fabric piece so as to stretch the latter.

3. A fabric stretcher as defined in claim 2 wherein the fluid-pressure means for effecting relative vertical movement between the jaws of each clamp is provided with a single remote actuating means operable to actuate the fluid-pressure means for each clamp simultaneously.

4. A fabric stretcher as defined in claim 2 wherein the fluid-pressure means for efiecting relative horizontal movement between the clamps is provided with means for varying the force applied by said fluid-pressure means to efiect said horizontal relative movement.

5. A fabric stretcher as defined in claim 2 wherein said supporting means comprises a series of abutting plates at least some of which are removable to vary the length of said supporting means so as to accommodate fabric pieces of different lengths.

6. A fabric stretcher as defined in claim 2 wherein the lower jaw of each of said clamps comprises an upwardly opening channel member and the upper jaw of each of said clamps comprises a complementary member having means extending downwardly therefrom for entry within the associated upwardly opening channel member so as to engage the associated fabric piece end therebetween.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 728,682 Dedick May 19, 1903 800,559 Edgerton Sept. 26, 1905 890,240 Krahnstover June 9, 1908 1,073,290 Rogalski Sept. 16, 1913 1,088,279 Horsting Feb. 24, 1914 1,367,028 Durio Feb. 1, 1921 1,822,501 Onsrud Sept. 8, 1931 1,827,258 Payzant Oct. 13, 1931 1,957,830 Grilfin May 8, 1934 

